Lorraine Heath by Sweet Lullaby Page B

often, and at first she hadn’t been sure what it was, but now she recognized it as the baby moving inside her. It was one thing about pregnancy she loved. She unbraided her hair and brushed it vigorously before braiding it again. Then she shrugged, unbraided it, ran her brush through it and poked her head around the quilt.
    “I’m ready for bed.”
    Jake was sitting on the sofa, his long legs stretched out before him. He turned his attention from the empty fireplace to her.
    “Good night, Reb. Have sweet dreams.”
    She was unexpectedly hit with disappointment. “Good night,” she said softly.
    Rebecca climbed into bed, drawing the covers up over her. Then she threw them off and clambered out of bed. She marched across the tiny room until she was standing in front of Jake, hands on her hips.
    “What do you mean by ‘Good night. Have sweet dreams’? For months now, I’ve been lying on the hard ground, my pallet beside yours, resting my head on your shoulder with your arm around me. Every night I’ve thought how nice it’d be when we could sleep in a soft bed again and now you’re telling me ‘Good night’ like you’re not planning on sharing that soft bed with me! Get yourself up off that sofa and get into that bed now!”
    He stood up, giving her a big lopsided grin. “I just wanted to make sure that’s where you wanted me.” He touched her cheek. “You looked scared as hell when I closed that door behind us. I don’t want you to ever be afraid of me, Reb. I’d never hurt you, and I’d never do anything you didn’t want.”
    “Then come to bed and hold me so I can get some sleep.”
    She climbed into bed, and lay on her back with her eyes squeezed shut while he undressed. Then she felt the bed dip under his weight. She scooted over, placing her head on his shoulder while his arm came around her.
    “This is as nice as I remembered it,” she said.
    “I didn’t know you liked this.”
    “Actually, Jake, there’s not a lot about you that I don’t like.”
    “What is something you don’t like?” She drew her brows together in thought. “Well … do you promise not to get your feelings hurt if I tell you?” “I promise.”
    “Well, then. I thought you should have given Carrie a great big hug and a kiss smack dab on the lips.”
    Jake laughed. “She was something else, wasn’t she? Do you think she’s always like that?”
    “Probably. I bet her husband is quiet.”
    “Makes sense. You got a quiet husband. I have a loud wife.”
    “I am not loud!”
    “Shh. The men will hear you.”
    “What are you going to have them do next?”
    “Since we’ll have help with our barn, I’m going to have them start on the bunkhouse. The weather seems pretty mild here, but you never can tell, and I don’t want them shacking up with us if it gets cold.”
    Rebecca snuggled against him.
    “What was that?” he asked.
    “What?”
    “Be still,” he ordered. “Did you hear something?”
    “No, thought I felt something. Was it the baby?” he asked.
    “Yes.”
    He rolled her over onto her back and came up on an elbow. They had slept in all their clothes every night, and since their first night Jake hadn’t been able to feel Reb’s body, let alone the tiny movements within her. He moved the covers off, gazing down at her.
    “Oh, Jake, don’t look at it.”
    “Why not? It’s beautiful. Can I put my hand on your stomach?” She nodded.
    He placed his hand lightly on her stomach and waited. Through her cotton gown, he felt the baby kick. And waited.
    “Will he move again?” he asked.
    She heard the disappointment in his voice and wished she had the power to make the baby move. “I don’t know. He doesn’t move very often.” She took his hand and moved it to her left side. “He seems to like this side.” She placed her hand over his and pressed it against her side. And they waited.
    And waited.
    Then Jake felt the slightest tremor beneath his palm.
    “Lord, how long has he been doing